Correcting Output Quality Problems
Use the examples below to determine which output quality problem
you are experiencing, then see the following table to troubleshoot
the problem.
Note
The examples below depict letter-size paper that has passed
through the printer long-edge first. (If the paper has passed through
the printer short-edge first, lines and repeating defects will run
vertically rather than horizontally.)
Figure 16
Examples of Output Quality Problems
Light Print or
Fade
Repeating
Defects
Misformed
Characters
Lines
Toner Smear
Gray
Background
Dropouts
Page Skew
Toner Specks
(front or back)
Curl or Wave
Wrinkles or
Creases
Loose Toner
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Li
ght Pri
n
t or
F
a
de
To
ner Speck
s
Dr
opouts
Li
nes
Gr
ay Backgr
o
u
n
d
Ton
e
r Smear
Loose Ton
e
r
Repe
atin
g
Defe
cts
Mi
sforme
d
Char
acte
rs
Pa
ge S
kew
Curl
or Wave
Wr
inkl
es
or
Cr
eas
es
Troubleshooting Steps
(Follow the steps in the
order they are listed.)
1. Print a few more pages to see if the
problem will correct itself.
2. Clean the inside of the printer
(page 54) or use the printer’s
cleaning page (page 56).
3. Make sure EconoMode is off in the
software and in the control panel
(page B-7).
4. Turn over the stack of paper in the
tray. Also try rotating the paper
180°.
1
1
1
1
5. Check the paper (or other print
media) type and quality
(pages A-2 through A-12).
6. Check the printer’s environment
(page A-14).
7. Make sure paper is loaded
correctly and that the guides fit
properly against the paper stack.
(See the sections on loading
paper, starting on page 24.)
8. Print to a different output bin
(page 20).
9. Adjust the toner density setting
(page B-7).
10. Change the fuser mode setting to
High (page B-5) or choose rough
paper type from the printer driver
(page 43).
11. Change the fuser mode setting to
Low (page B-5).
12. Redistribute the toner in the print
cartridge (page 53).
13. Install a new HP print cartridge.
(See instructions with the print
cartridge.)
14. To alternate small and standard
paper, from the Configuration
Menu set
SMALL PAPER
SPEED=SLOW
.
15. After trying all the steps suggested
above, contact an HP-authorized
service or support provider. (See
the telephone support flyer
included with the printer.)
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